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Organization convenes in Cincinnati Dec. 4 to 6

by Lynn Snyder

A former NFL star, a market analyst and agricultural consultant will bring their expertise to Cincinnati for the 84^th Ohio Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting, Dec. 4 to 6. Also, OFBF Outstanding Children's Literature Award Author Marsha Wilson Chall will be available for a book signing and to receive her award.

Anthony Munoz, Dan Zwicker and Connie Cahill will present seminars on Wednesday and Thursday, according to OFBF Vice President for Information, Education and Community Services Kurt Ely.

"The announcement of the special seminars builds anticipation for the meeting," Ely said. "The annual meeting committee's goal is to provide seminars that contain useful information, such as the Zwicker and Cahill presentations, and inspire them, as we hope the Anthony Munoz seminar will."

Munoz was the first-round NFL draft pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 1980, and the third pick in the draft. From 1980 until 1993, he would be selected to the Pro Bowl for 11 consecutive years, become a member of the 1980s All-Decade team and the 75^th anniversary All-NFL team. He was named the Offensive Lineman of the Year eight times and played in two Super Bowls. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998. Currently, he is an analyst for ESPN's NFL coverage and speaks across the country.

Dan Zwicker is a market analyst for AgriVisor Services, an affiliated company of Illinois Farm Bureau. He has 25 years’ experience in the futures industry and is a widely recognized market analyst. His primary expertise is analysis of grain markets and development of related marketing strategies for AgriVisor’s premium service and the Cash Strategist, which is published in FarmWeek.

Connie Cahill has been involved in consumer and agricultural initiatives for 25 years. She has been a consultant with Oscar Mayer, Perdue Farms, Kraft, Sargento, KitchenAid and M&M Mars. Currently she has been working with commodity groups such as Colorado Potato Administrative Committee, Ohio Soybean Council, Ohio Apple Marketing Program, Ohio Poultry Association and the American Egg Board. She serves as spokesperson for producers, promoting consumer products on radio and television. She can been seen on the noon broadcast of WLIO-TV in Lima. Cahill's seminar will be a breakfast event, and a ticket is required. She will be preparing dishes from the Farm Bureau cookbook and discussing ways farmers can reach out to consumers.

Marsha Wilson Chall wrote "Sugarbush Spring," a heart-warming story of three generations of a family working together to make maple syrup. Wilson Chall's text describes the process required to successfully produce the "fine, light amber" syrup, and Jim Daly's realistic pictures add to the atmosphere of togetherness that creates this important family tradition. The author will visit a local elementary school prior to the annual meeting when the award will be presented.

The meeting will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel and Cincinnati Convention Center. Hotel reservations are due Nov. 4. Contact your county Farm Bureau office for reservation information.

Following are some agenda highlights:

1 to 5 p.m. Hospitality Corner

3 to 3:50 p.m. Marketing Strategies for Success in 2003, Dan Zwicker

4 to 5:15 p.m Measuring Success, Anthony Munoz

8:30 to 11 p.m. Reception, hosted by OFBF Board of Trustees Hospitality Corner

7:45 a.m. Reaching Today's Consumer, Connie Cahill

8 to 11 a.m. Hospitality Corner

9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Young Farmer Discussion Meet Finals

11:30 a.m. Kick-Off Lunch

Children's Literature Award presentation

Galen Barnes, Nationwide

Jack Fisher, OFBF Executive Vice President

2 to 5 p.m. General Session

6:30 p.m. Harvest Banquet

County Farm Bureau recognition

7:30 a.m. Trustee Elections

Districts 3,8,11,14,17,18 and Southeast Women's Trustee

9:00 a.m. General Session

11:45 a.m. Delegate Lunch

1:15 p.m. General Session